Automatic vapor feed for hydrocarbon motors



Aug. 28, 1923.

l. COWLES AUTOMATIC VAPOR FEED FOR HYDROCARBON MOTORS Filed June 1, 1915 s Sheena-sheet 1 Aug. 2s, 1923. l1,466,425

l. COWLES AUTOMATIC VAPOR FEED FOR HYDROCARBON MOTORS Filed June 1, 1915 -s sheets-sheet 2 I. ,Hy /fw ugv. 28, 1923. 1,466,425

l. cowLEs AUTOMATIC- VAPOR FEED FOR HYDROCARBON MOTORS Filed June l, 1915 3 Sheets-Shea?l 5 A d lizzy@ l Z u Patented Aug. 28, 1323.

UNITED STATES IRVING COWLES, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC 'VAPOR FEED FOB HYDROCARBON MOTORS.

Application led June 1, 1915. Serial No. 31,583.

To wZZ whom t may concern: Be it known that l, InvINc CowLEs, cit1- zen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certaingnew and useful lm-l provements in Automatic Vapor Feed for Hydrocarbon Motors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the sam-e.

rlhis invention has for its object toprovide means for introducing steam or vapor into internal combustion motors to be admixed with the charges of carbureted air, to secure the well-known advantagesv resulting therefrom. t

The particular object of the invention 1s to provide means of the character set forth, constructedl and arranged to supply steam or vapor to the motor Without in any way affecting the volume of air or materially afecting the volume of carbureted air admitted, and in which the steam or vapor generated and fed, is automatically adjusted to accord with the needs of the motor at varying speeds thereof regardless of any manual valve adjustment to attain this e A further object of the invention is to provide steam or vapor generating and feeding means which becomes and remains automatically effective only so long as the motor is in operation and becomes ineffective to supply steam. or vapor to the motor as soon as the latter ceases to operate.

A further object of the invention 1s to provide a steam or vapor feed for internal com-1 bustion motors in' which the generation of steam or vapor and its supply to the -motor is controlled bythe maintenance of a partial vacuum in the steam or vapor generator, through the connection of the latter with the motor.

Another object vide mechanical means whereby the volume of steam or vapor admitted to the motor is .automatically regulatedand' .controlled to maintain the same ina substantially uniform ratio to theA combustible fluid admitted thereto. i g.

lOther objects of the invention-will appear from the following specification- Suitable embodiments of the invention are Aillustrated inv the accompanying. rdrawings,

in. which Figure-l-- is a sectional viewthrough of the invention isto pro an internal combustion engine equip ed with de vlces embodying my invention, tile latter being shown mainly in section and partly 1n elevation.

Figure -'2 is a top plan view of an `internal combustion engine and a portion of apparatus embodying my invention connected therewith.

Figure 3- is a detail verticallongitudinal section through a boiler and 'a portion of the exhaust pipe of the engine constituting a part of my said apparatus.

Figure -4- is a horizontal section on the llne 4 4 of Figure 3-. L

Figure 5 .is a detail sectional view of a water reservolr and oat-controlled valve .boiler embodying my invention.

igure -9 is an end elevation of the same partly in section on the line 9--9 of My said apparatus comprises a steam generator l adapted to be mounted upon the exhaust pipe 2 of aninternal combustion engine 3 and adapted` to be4 heated bythe products of combustion passing from the exhaust end of the internal combustion engine to generate steam. rFhe said steam generator consists of a suitable receptacleA for water which is equipped with a blow-oil or safety valve 4 normally maintained closed by a light spring, and is further equipped with an exhaust port controlled by acheck-valve 6 maintained normallyclosed by a spring 7 having greater resistance than ythe said spring controlling the safety .valve 4c.4 The said steam generatoris further, provided contiguous to-its bottom with-an inlet port for water connected by means .of the,. pipe 8 with a float; chamber 4,9.in which a given level of .water is normally, maintained by means of the oat 10 controlling the valve 411 which controls the inletv port for water to ,said Hoatchamber 9. -The said oat may belconnected with,v lthe 'valve 11 in the same manner as the floats of carbureters are con.-a nected with the inlet Valves for maintaining given levels ot hydro-carbon liquid in the float chambers of said carbureters. The lower end of said float chamber-9 is connected bymeans of the pipe 12 with the lower end of a tank 13 containing water or other suit-- able vapor fluid, the atter being disposed at an elevation below that of said float chamber 9, and in such position that water cannot possibly flow' into the latter therefrom by gravity. The tank 13 is provided with a filling plug 14 having a vent therein. for

the admission of air.

'llhe exhaust port 5 of the steam generator 1 is connected b means of a pipe 15 with the intake manifold 16 of the motor, the said pipe bein preferably coiled around the exhaust mani old 2 of the motor'so that steam or vapor passing through sald pipe from the boiler 1 to the motor will be increased in temperature during passage to the latter. lf the exhaust manifold 2 becomes vegy hot the said steam or Vapor may obviously be superheated in passage.

Where the device is used in connection with a multicylinder motor a number ,of said pipes 15 may be used to connect the steam generator with the intake manifold at a plurality of points as particularly shown in Figure 2.

1t will be noted that there is no inlet for air to the tank 13 below the level of liquid i therein or to the'loat chamber 9 or steam generator 1, this being one of the essential features of the invention, as it enables the device to be used without requiring any readjustment of the air inlet valves to the intake manifold to allow for the air admitted through the'steam or vapor-feeding means.

The apparatus as above described operates as follows:

Assuming that the motor is cold and is about to be started, then the usual cranking operation is performed to admit'carbureted air which is rich in hydro-carbon vapor. As no air can be admitted through the parts comprising my apparatus the adjustment of the throttle valve, etc., is the same as usual. The steam generator 1 will not, of course, supply any vapor or steam until after the motor has been in operation a suiicient l length of time to heat the steam generator and the water contained therein to the boiling point, but it will be observed that by reason of the connection withthe pipe or pipes 15 with the intake manifold 16 a relatively constant vacuum will be maintained 4in the 'steam generator 1 depending, of

course, upon the speed of the motor. Hence, as-soon as the steam or vapor is generated in the steam generator 1 it will pass from the same into the exhaust port 5 and through the pipe or pipes 15 into the intake maniders.

Meagan fold where it will become admixed with the carbureted air, and will pass into the cylin- As the exhaust manifold 2 becomes hotter the generation of steam willv proceed at a more rapid rate, but the only ed'ect of such generation will be to break the vacuum in the steam generator 1 so that a greater volume of steam will pass the check-valve 6. llt the steam should be generated with 'such rapidity asto create a pressure in said generator 1 then the surplus of steam. will pass out through the safety valve 4f.

The maintenance of a partial 'vacuum in the steam generator will cause the generation of vapor therein to 'take place before thewater is heated to two-hundred-twelve degrees Fahr., the exact degree of heat at which this occurs being obviously dependent upon the degree of partial vacuum maintained. Thus the time elapsing between the starting of the motor and the generation of'vapor will be more or less short depending upon the speed of the motor from the time of starting the same, said speed determining the degree of vacuum and the volume of products of combustion discharged. Thus, if the motor is started and maintained running at high speed, the heating of the steam generator will proceed more rapidly and the degree of vacuum will be relatively great and more uniform thanv if the motor runs at low speed.

It is also desirable that the vapor be admitted to the intake manifold at high temperature and in the shape of dry steam as,

in coming into contact with the much cooler.

charge of carbureted air it will be condensed to some extent but not to liquid form and will be carried into the cylinders as vapor more or less yintimately mixed with the charge of carbureted air, the heat absorbed by the latter from the ste-or vapor being advantageous to the combustion thereof and thereby' increases the eiliciency of the charge.

The float and valve in the Heat chamber 9 controlled thereby will maintain a substantially consmnt level of liquid in said Heat chamber, this being substantially the level of the axis of the pipe 8. The water will How by gravity through the pipe 8 from.4 the chamber 9 into the stwm generator 1, but its level inthe latter can at no time exceed its levell in the former. 'llhe admission of water to the chamber 9 from the tank 13 is obviously `fde'pendent upon maintaining a vacuum in the steam generator 1 which would be communicated to the float chamber -9 and through the latter to the tank 13 so gna eration of steam will result which may again,

almost instantaneously break the vacuum so that the latter will act `as the so-called flash boiler so long as the motor is maintained in operation after the water in the generator has once been completely exhausted. 'Should the motor stop` then of course, the admission of steam to the intake `manifold thereof will cease immediately by reason of the fact that the check valve 6 offers greater resistance to opening than the safety valve vt and, hence, though the generation of steam in the generator may continue until the latter and the, intake manifold have cooled down the steam so generated will pass out of the safety valve 4 to the atmosphere Without in any way affecting thel motor. Thus the intake manifold will be maintained free of water from convdensed steam in the intervals between operation of the motor. l

It will be understood, of course, that while it is probable that no liquid other than water will be contained in the tank 13 a mixturel of water and alcohol or other Huid may be used particularly Vin the Winter months to prevent the water in the tank 15 and in the float chamber 9 and generator 1 from freezing and bursting said parts. Other fluids may be known or may be hereafter ascertained which could be substituted for Water with better results and it is obvious that any such liquid may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. A

The 'generatorl as shown particularly in Figure 3, is preferably divided into three com Iartments by means of partition walls 2O t erein and each of said partition walls is provided with an opening which may be closed by means of a screw plug 21. The purpose of this is to enable the effective heati'ng surface of thev generator to be increased and diminished according to the number and size of the cylinders of the motor so as to proportion the steam supply to the require-q ments of the motor.

My invention is, of course, capable of modification Within the skill of a mechanic without departing from the invention, example of such modifications being shown in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive. In the construction shown in Figure 1 it will be noted that the exhaust manifold 2 is provided with an open- I ing through which the bottom of the boiler pro]ects. The cutting of the manifold may be objectionable and obviously the same or substantially the same result may be obtained by connecting the generator 22 as shown in Figure 6, with a concave bottoml to receive the upper portion of the exhaust manifold 2. The connection from the generatorto 'theintake manifold of the motor through the pipe 15 is the vsame as in the construction shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 8 I have shown a generator 23 having flanged end plates through which the exhaust manifold 2 passes and which carry the circumferential wall 24, the annular water chamber being/ adapted to receive water in the lower end, the level of the latter being maintained at the level indicated by the dotted line 25. boiler or steam. generator suited to the purpose may obviously be substituted for any of the constructions hereinabove illustrated and described.

I claim as my invention: l A

1."\In Ian internal combustion englne, a steam generator, and connection betweenthe engine inta-ke and said generator 4whereby the vacuum within the former during operation of the same is communicated to said generator for drawing steam or vapor only from the latter into said intake, said connection including means for preventing feed of fluid from said generator to said intake as the vacuum in the latter is broken by stoppage of the engine.

f 2. In an internal combustion` enginea steam generator, a plurality of outlets for steam or vapor onlyfrom said generator, one thereof connected with the engine intake for supplying steam or vapor only thereto, and valves controlling said outlets adapted to' prevent the passage of fluid from said generator to the intake except when vacuum develops in the latter by operation of said engine.

'3. In an internal combustion engine, a sealed container for water mounted upon a portion of the engine adapted to become heated during operation of the same to generate steam, a pipe connecting said container with the intake for causing generated steam to become admixed with the gaseous charges admitted to the cylinder, a relief valve for said container, a check-valve vfor said pipe, said valves maintained closed by springs, the check-valve ol'ering'greater resistanceI to opening than the relief valve.

4:. In anA internal combustion engine, a sealed container for water mounted upon a portion of the engine adapted to become heated during operation of the same to generate steam, a pipe connecting said container with the intake for causing generated steam to become admixed with the gaseous charges admitted to the cylinder, means for maintaining'a substantially constant water-level in said container, a relief valve for said container, a, check-valve for Any other form oftainer with the intake `for causing said pipa-'said' valves maintained closed by springs, thecheck-valve oering reater reslstance to opening than the relie valve.

5. In an lnternal combustion engine, a sealed container for water mounted upon a Doi-tion of Athe engine adapted -to become heated during operation of the same to generate steam, a' pipe connecting said container 'with the intake for causing generated steam to become admixed with thek gaseous charges admitted to the cylinder, a' sealed water feed chamber having connection with said container, a source of supply of water at a lower level than the chamber, connected to the chamber and from which waterg may be 'drawn into the chamber only when suiicient vacuum exists therein.

t. ln an` internal combustion engine, a sealed container for water'mopnted upon a portion of the engine adapted tobecme heated during operation of the same to generatesteam, a pipe connecting said container with the intake for causing generated steam-to become admi'xed with'the gaseous charges admitted to the cylinder, a sealed water feed chamber having connection with said container, connection between said chamberand a source of supply of water, thelatter disposed at a lower level than said chamber and feeding to the said chamber only when a partial vacuum is producedv therein and means establishing communication between 'said chamber and said container above and below the normal water level in the former for maintaining the samel water level in the latter.

7.- ln an internal combustion engine, a sealed container for water mounted upon a portion of the engine adapted to become heated during operation of the same to generate steam, a" pipe connecting said conenerated steam to become admixed wit the gaseous charges admitted to the cylinder, a sealed water feed chamber having connection with. said container, connection between said chamber and a source of supply of water, the latter disposed at a lower level than said chamber and feeding to the said cham,

ber only when a partial vacuum is produced therein,- a float actuated valve' in said chamvber controlhng .a substantially constant`- wa- 'ter level insaid-chamber, and means establishing communication between4 said chamfber and` said 4container above and -below'the normal water level in the former for main,

taining the same water level in the latter.

\- 8. In. .an internal combustionengine, a

neeenae sealed steam generator disposed-to'- be heated by the hot products et' combustion of said.

engine, check-valve controlled connection between said generator andtheengine intake for maintaining apartial vacuum in .a

the former while the engine is'running to cause the generated steam or -vapor to be ldrawn into said intake-and a relief. valve for said generator. adapted to permit the discharge of steam at' a pressure below-that requir d to open said check-valve whereby the disch ge vofl steam under pressureinto the engine intake during inertia of -theengine is prevented.

9. In an internal combustionl engine, la

steam generator, a valve-controlled port therefor leading to the atmosphere, connectionA between said generator and the engine intake, and a fluid-pressure-actuated.,valve interposed in said connection, said lirstnamed valve adapted to permit the creation of a partial vacuum in said generator, and said fluid-pressure-actuated valve adapted to offer resistance' to the passa eef -steam vto the intake and coacting with t e irst-named pressure forc- .opening under such relief valve opening pressure combined with the engine-suction.

11. The combination with an internal combustion engine, of a water tank,a steam chamber, a connection leading from the water tank to the steam chamber and heated by the exhaust gases from the engine, a connection leading from the steam chamber to the intake manifold, a check valve in. said connection-between the steam chamber-and manifold, andaJ relief valve inthe steam chamber and adapted -to be opened by a less pressure tha-nthat necessary to lopen tb check valve; l

In testimony whereof l have signed .myname in presence of two .subscribing witnesses.-

- inviare- Cons, 

